Message from President Susan Martin
Photo: David Schmitz
Dear Spartans,
It is an honor to serve this year as interim president of the first public university in the West and the founding campus of the CSU.
My husband Larry and I (with golden retriever puppy in tow!) lived for eight weeks in student housing and spent considerable time walking around campus, meeting people and learning about San Jose State. Even in a time of transition, SJSU’s students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors and community partners exude Spartan pride.
And there is much to be proud of!
“Powering Silicon Valley is about much more than sending our graduates into the region’s workforce.”
Enrollment this fall reached 32,773, a new record. There were 53,926 undergraduate applications for admission. Thanks to additional state funding, we hired 58 new tenure-track faculty members this year and plan to add another 67 faculty positions in 2016. A new Student Wellness Center opened and Student Union renovations are nearing completion. A new residential complex (Campus Village phase II) is under construction.
We continue to fulfill our promise to “power Silicon Valley.” According to a national survey, Silicon Valley companies employ more SJSU graduates than any other college or university in the nation. Spartans also hold positions of influence in many fields, including healthcare, the arts, education, and public and community service. And there are more job opportunities than ever before—70,000 listings through our Career Center, more than two for every student.
Powering Silicon Valley, however, is about much more than sending our graduates into the region’s workforce. Throughout this issue of Washington Square, you’ll find stories of students, alumni and faculty members who use what drives and inspires them to push beyond boundaries, create change and find solutions that make both SJSU and the world a better place.
As the state of California shifts responsibility for financing capital projects back to the CSU and its 23 campuses, we will need active support from our alumni and friends in the public and private sectors. Now more than ever, we need help from you, the university’s alumni and friends, so that our outstanding students, faculty and staff fulfill SJSU’s promise.
In the meantime, we are focused on several strategic objectives, including establishing a process and timetable for developing a new campus strategic plan and ensuring that the next president inherits a strong campus leadership team. These efforts will provide a foundation for SJSU’s future, deepening the university’s connection to our region, state and beyond.
With Spartan pride,
Sue Martin
Interim President
